Freedom of Information Act 2000 Request

Request for information regarding prosecutions and decisions for Hunting in the Cheshire Area from 2004 to date.

Request

Prosecutions of Illegal Hunting in the Cheshire Area

1. Please can you supply me with details of the number of successful prosecutions made against any 'Hunt' operating in the Cheshire area due to the illegal hunting and killing of foxes from 2004 to date

2. Please can you supply me with details of the number of any unsuccessful prosecutions made against any 'Hunt' operating in your area from 2004 to date

3. Please provide a list of all the hunts that you are responsible for in making sure that they withhold the law and do not break The Hunting Act

Response

In response to questions one and two, less than five cases are recorded on our systems. As there are very few cases recorded during the period, I have anonymised the exact numbers to protect the identity of those it relates to. It is necessary to anonymise this information to ensure individuals who have faced prosecution cannot be identified.

To disclose this type of information would be unfair to the individuals concerned; individuals have a clear and strong expectation that their personal data will be held in confidence and not disclosed to the public under the FOI Act. This is especially true of sensitive personal data as it comprises information that individuals will regard as the most private and therefore this information is withheld under Section 40(2) ‘Personal Data’ of the FOI Act.

In response to question three, the CPS does not hold any information on about whether any person prosecuted was a member of a registered hunt. Under Section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act we have an obligation to advise what, if any information may assist you with your request.

Although the CPS holds no records in line with your request, the Ministry of Justice may hold a figure of the prosecutions brought by other agencies overall. A request can be made to the Ministry of Justice via the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Information Management Unit 020 3357 0899 IMU@cps.gov.uk